Oral Health Navigation Program – October Featured Program

Pasco Kids First’s October featured #PKFMISSIONMOMENT Program is the Oral Health Navigation program.

Smile for life!  Can be as easy as 1, 2 & 3.  

1. Floss 1 time a day.
2. Brush 2 times a day to prevent cavities.
3. Visit your dentist to prevent these 3 diseases; diabetes, health disease and oral cancer

 When families neglect dental care, they put themselves and others at-risk which results in dental related absences contributing to over 164 million hours of lost work each year.   The most common infectious disease in children is tooth decay.  The US Surgeon General report stated that over 51 million school hours are estimated to be missed by children each year due to dental pain.

 Our Oral Health Navigation Program funded through Florida Blue Foundation is essential.  Through our program 252 families have received an oral health education visit. They were provided dental resources and were linked to a dental provider. 193 family members completed an initial dental visit.   As a result, our Oral Health Program reached 969 family members through navigation of the dental system and addressing barriers to receiving treatment. This program is making a difference! 

 The Oral Health Navigation Program assists families with removing barriers, such as transportation and financial, and connects them with dental services.  Each family receives a dental kit so that each family member can have their own toothbrush and dental supplies.  The program teaches family members how-to-care for their teeth,  by establishing a routine.  We increase awareness to new parents, teaching how to care for their baby’s gums to prevent early cavities and by providing a wash cloth  and their first toothbrush to care for their baby’s gums and incoming teeth.

When you support of Pasco Kids First, you can make a difference in a child’s life who is facing difficult times and needs additional support with dental care.    

 Make a donation today so we can help a child tomorrow.   Help us make Pasco Kids First!

For more information about this program, contact Pasco Kids First Oral Health Navigator at wdelarosa@pascokidsfirst.org or 727-597-2508.